Actor, director, and producer Richard Lear has been performing since high school, when he was first cast as a Union Soldier in the Columbia Pictures mini-series The Blue and The Gray. The role inspired a lifetime career in acting, spent both on the screen and, primarily, on the NYC stage, including his critically acclaimed portrayal of Bruce Niles in The Normal Heart and most recently in the company of Theater Breaking Through Barriers’ revival of God of Carnage at Theatre Row.
In previews since September 21, with an opening night set for October 10, Mint Theater Company’s New York premiere of Lynn Riggs’ 1925 family drama Sump’n Like Wings brings Lear, a resident of historic Plainfield, NJ, back to Theatre Row for a pivotal role in the little-known play that considers lessons learned about freedom and limits, love, respect, and safety, home and leaving home.
During rehearsals, Richard made time to answer some questions about the show, his character, and Mint Theater Company’s mission of presenting and preserving worthwhile forgotten plays from the past.
Can you tell us a little about the narrative and who you play?
Richard: I play Uncle Jim, a hotel owner who loves his niece more than anything in the world. This is a story about a family’s love and the price of independence. A young woman in 1913 decides she will not live by everyone else’s standards.
What do you find most relatable about your character?
I have ten nephews and nieces. I am very close to some of them. One in particular had an issue with her mother a while back, which put me in the middle as referee. These types of family dynamics are commonplace; I think we all have experienced them in one form or another.
What do you find most difficult about portraying him?
This cast is so extraordinary, playing Uncle Jim is a joy. I would say the most difficult thing is how much I talk. Let’s just say I am a man of many words.
How and when did you first develop your facility with a southern accent?
I was born and raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the bottom of the Ozark National Forest. We are using an Ozark Southern accent, but it is an accent from 1913. Thankfully, Lynn Riggs was incredible at phonetically writing exactly how he wants you to pronounce things. In addition, we have an extraordinary dialect coach, Amy Stoller. I have no fear that she will keep me and the entire cast on track.
Why is it important for present-day viewers to see lost works from the past?
I think it is important to see that, even though we think we have progressed so much as a society, our problems and family dynamics are still the same. I think we all have the one relative we have an issue with. To see that same dynamic from one hundred years ago is a realization that people will always be people. It is important to view the past from a lens that is not precious.
What have you enjoyed most about working with The Mint?
The team Jonathan Bank has assembled is extraordinary. All of them are amazing at what they do. In addition to being tremendously accomplished, there is the utmost respect and professionalism.
What do you hope audiences take away from the show?
I hope the audience can see that even though you love someone, sometimes that is not enough to solve the problem. Sometimes you have to back away and let someone fly on their own.
Many thanks, Rich, for giving our readers an inside look at Sump’n Like Wings. I look forward to seeing it next month at Theatre Row and appreciate your insights into the show and your role in it.
Running Time: Approximately two hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission.
Sump’n Like Wings plays through Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, NYC. For tickets (starting at $39, including fees), go online.